Frank carlson



P. CARLSON.

(No ModLjl CORSET FASTBNER.

Patented Aug. 17,1897.

UNITED ASTATES y PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CARLSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO CARL M.JOHANSON, OFSAME PLACE.'

CORSET-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,217,da'ted August17, 1897. Application filed March 4, 1896l Serial No. 581,866. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I,- FRANK CARLSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of -Minnesota,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corset-Fasteners, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new corset-fastener, and is applicable to allother cases where fasteners can be u sed.

The invention mainly consists of-two parts of mechanism connected by abar of peculiar form, hereinafter particularly described, secured in onepart in such a way as to permit it to revolve, and which when insertedin the other part and turned locks and holds together the two parts.

With the clasps and hooks -now employed to fasten a corset it isnecessary to cramp and squeeze the body before they can be fastened, andit is intended by my invention to remove the hardship. This cramping andsqueezing in fastening a corset is entirely removed by my invention,inasmuch as to lock a corset it is only necessary to bring the sidestogether into the position in which they remain when locked. I'attainthese object-s by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figures l and 2 show the two parts ready Ato beconnected. Figs. 3 and 4 show the same in position for unlatching. Fig.5 shows latch connected, with top plates removed. Figs. 6 and 7 are sideviews of the two parts of the latch. Fig. 8 is a perspective of latch inpo-Y sition for unlatching. Fig. 9 is a front view of the corset whenlatched together. Fig. 10 shows the shape of the plate from which thecover is made which contains the bar. Figs. 11 and 12 show the sameplate when bent into shape.

Numerals refer to parts as follows, similar numbers referring to.similarparts throughout the several views shown in the drawings.

land 2 in the several gures represent corset-steels along the edge ofthe corset, to which are rivetedat regular intervals sets of latchcovers3 and 4. Under one of these covers, 4, are riveted two springs, madefrom strips of iron or steel bent in the form indicated in the drawingsby 5 5. The front ends of these springs 5 5 approach each other, so thatwhen the pointed end of the'bar 7 is introduced between them they pressagainst it firmly and -when it is turned the springs fall into thenotches in the bar and prevent it from being withdrawn. The other cover,3, is shaped to and fits over the bar 7, so that it holds it at rightangles to the corset-steel and allows it to turn freely in the socketthus formed by the cover. In this same cover 3, at the side farthestfrom the outer edge lof the corsetsteel, a slot or aperture is cut fromthe lower edge of the cover upward to a point just above the bar when inits position in the socket.` This slot is shown in Figs. 3, l0, and ll.This slot is the width of the arm 6 of the bar 7.

A small projection 10, formed by a bend in the .cover 3, as shown inFig. 1l, fits within a groove in the bar 7, near the end, and over thearm 6 and holds the vbar in place, and also prevents the arm fromturning beyond the point already indicated.

` That part of the bar 7 which fits within the cover 3 is rounded, andat the end which protrudes from the cover 3 it is sharpened. At thesharpened end are cut two notches opposite each other, as shown in thedrawings. The sharpened end of the bar is also flattened on the sidesnot notched and is cut away, so that the bar can easily pass between thesprings 5 5 when these fiattened sides are turned to them.

- At the' other end of the bar 7 is the arm 6, Aat right angles to thebar and in a plane with the notches in its other end. This arm lieslwithin the slot or aperture in the cover 3 already described.

A ring 9 may be fastened to the end of the arm 6, as shown in Figs. l,5, 6, and S.

My invention is operated as follows: The

erture in which it lies as far as the upper edge of the slot in thecover 3 and the projection 10 will permit it to pass, at whichpoint itis at right angles to the corset-steel andthe flattened sides of the bar7 are on a line with the springs 5 5. The baris then passed under theplate 4 between the springs 5 5, the springs coming in contact 'with theflattened sides of the end of the bar, until the notches have passedbeyond the ends of the spring.

Yarm 6 is turned up and out of the slot or ap- IOO The arm is thenturned back into the aperture, flat against the corset-steel, when thespring will lie in the notches in the end of the bar and will hold it inposition and prevent it from being withdrawn.

To disconnect the fastener, turn the bar 7 until the springs 5 5 pryagainst the fiattened surface by raising the arm G. The springs thenbecome disengaged from the notches and, pressing against the fiat facesof the bar, offer no resistance to its being withdrawn.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by these Letters Patent, is-

A corset-fastener consisting of two attaching-plates, each provided witha housing, one of said plates being provided with ahorizontally-arranged angular rotatable bolt comprising an outer endwhich is pointed and provided upon two opposite sides withlocking-shoulders and upon the other two opposite sides with smoothsurfaces tapering .slightly toward the point; and an inner end formingan arm for rotating it, and the other plate being provided with twoopposing angular plates, each provided with an integral spring-arm,secured in the housing thereof, the free ends of said spring-armsmeeting and forming a V-shaped opening adapted to receive the end of therotatable bolt; the construction being such that upon bringing the edgesof the garment together the bolt is adapted to pass between saidsprings, the ends of which will engage the said shoulders andautomatically lock the bolt therein by a snap action, while upon arotation of said bolt, the smooth surfaces thereof will be brought intoengagement with the ends of the spring whereby the bolt may beWithdrawn, substantially as described.

FRANK CARLSON.

7Witnesses:

H. B. FRYBERGER, JOHN M. MCCLINTOCK.

